Roof truss



I Aug. 5, 1941. v A. .RIETZKE V2,251,578

' lROOF TRUss A Filed Feb. 28, 1941 gafas? ZZZ@ Patented Aug. 5, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT oil-*FICE August Rietzke, Gordons CornersN. J., assigner to August Rietzke, Inc., Gordons Corners, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 28, 1941, Serial No. 381,148

4 Claims. i (Cl. 10S-23) enable the beam to be fabricated at the mill, on?

the job, or otherwise as may be preferred. v

It is also an object of the invention to provide a beam vof this kind including upper and lower chords with interposed struts r stay members together with means for maintaining the chords and struts or stay members in assembled relation, said means also being so constructed and arranged toy yallow tightening up of the beam, as may be required from time to time.

A still further object` of the invention is to provide a beam of this kind which may be termed a multiply arched truss and wherein the truss is fabricated in a manner to eiectively withstand all stressesand strain thereon.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a View, partly in elevation and partly insection, illustrating a truss constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;`

Figure 2 is an enlargedY fragmentary View, partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating one end portion of the truss as illustratediin Figure l;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view'taken substantially on the line 4--4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary View, partly in elevation and partly in section, illustrating a truss constructed in accordance with another embodiment of my invention;

Figure 6 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a detailed sectional viewtaken substantially on the line 'l.f'lV of Figure 6.

As illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawing,` the truss structure comprises two chords A and B, and each of these chords comprises superimposed lamination's I. These laminations I comprise elongated wooden strips of desired length and width and, as particularly illustrated in Figure 2, these laminations or strips are of varying lengths so that either of the chords A and B may be readilyassembled.

Thev extremities oi the laminations Il at each end of the chord A are fanned out or' in stepped relation, as at 3, to be received with theV suitably formed recessesv 4 provided in aioot plate 5. Each endV portion of the chord A isv secured to' the foot plate 5 by the bolt 6l or the like extending through the endportion ofA the chord A and the foot plate 5.

Eachv end portionl of the lower chord B is also fanned or stepped, as at I with the longest lamination or strip being below.v This ianned or stepped portion 6I at each end 0f the lower chord BY is snugly received within the stepped shoulders 'I formed fromV below in the' outer or free end portion of the foot plate 5 and said outer end portion of thelower chord B'. is secured to the foot plate 5` by the bolts 8` or the like extending through the foot plate 5 and the extended or stepped portions of the' laminations or strips I of the lower chord B'.

The chords A and B are'u-pwardly arched as desired and interposed between the chords A and B at opposite sides of the center or high point of the beam are the struts or stay members 9. These members 9 are of' duplicate construction andl each of the stays is so formed as to be equally effective in either of its reversed positions.

Each extremity' of the strut 9 is provided with the substantially perpendicularly related faces I0 andi I`I. In the assembly of thebeam the faces I0 of the strutsI or members 9 have direct contact with the inner or opposedfaces of the chords A yand B1. These struts or stay members 9 are in parallel-ism and disposed on an upward incline o r upstroke in the general direction ofr an imaginary line` intersecting the center or high point of the truss.

Interposed between the central portion of a strut or stay member 9 and the ends of the adjacent strutsl or stay membersl 9 are the shortl struts or stay members I2. These struts or stay membersV I2? are also of duplicate construction, t

both as to design and dimension, and are provided at one end with the substantially perpendicularly related faces I4 and- I5. The face I5 of eachvofY these struts or'stay members I2v h-as direct contact with the'- inner surface of either the* upper chordA or lower chord B and the face I4 of each of said struts or members I2 has directcontact with the face II of an adjacent strut or stay member 9;

The opposite end portion of each of the struts or stay members I2 istransversely beveled, as atA I6; to t withinI a similarly formed recess I1 in either the upper or lower face of a strut or stay member I2. As is clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 the short strut or stay members I2 are arranged in pairs with the struts or members I2 of each pair in alignment.

The faces Ii! of the struts or stay members 9 are provided, at substantially the transverse center of the strut or stay member 9, with the grooves I3 each of which registering with a groove I9 in the adjacent abutting face I4 of a stay member I2. These registering grooves I8 and I9 cooperate to provide openings through which are snugly directed the elongated holding bolts 20. These bolts, as herein disclosed, are disposed from above through the upper chord A, through the openings provided by the grooves I8 and I9, and through the lower chordrB. The

bolt 20 is also of a length to'extend below theV lower chord B so that a holding nut 2l may be threaded thereon.

It is to be pointed out that the bolts El) serve to effectively maintain the chords A and B and the struts or stay members 9 and I2 in assembled relation, that is to say, the adjacent ends of the struts 9 and I2 in abutting contact. These bolts 20 also provide effective means for holding the struts 9 and I2 against lateral displacement from between the chords A and B.

It is believed to be obvious that the beam as herein described is one which can be readily and cheaply produced and is also of a character that it can be conveniently fabricated at the mill, on the job, or elsewhere as may be preferred. It is also further pointed out that the simplicity of the structure of the beam readily permits the desired tightening of the beam at any time after being placed in position upon the simple operation of properly tightening up the holding nuts 2I. In this embodiment of the invention just described, the struts or stay members 9 and I2 are preferably each of a width substantially equal to the Width of the upper chord A and the lower chord B.

The laminations or strips I are of varying lengths spliced at the holding bc-lts 20 so that either of the chords A and B (Figure 2) may be readily assembled. These overlying laminations the chords against the struts or stay members 9 and I2 (Figure 2) exerted by the force of tightening the holding bolts 2D. In other words, these overlying laminations or strips are held together by the pressure of the chords A and B and the struts or stay members 9 and I2 against each other, with pressure exerted by the force of tightening the holding bolts 2B. It is particularly pointed out that all load, weight and strain and the lower chord D with the up-slope struts or stay members 22 and the down-slope struts vor stay members 23 arranged side by side or in cross relation, as is particularly illustrated in Figure of the drawing. The struts or stay members 22 and 23 are of duplicate construction,

Z or strips I are held together by the pressure of both as to dimensions and configurations, and

are provided at their ends with the substantially perpendicularly related lfaces 24 and 25. The faces 24 havepcontact with the opposed faces of the chords C and D and the faces 25`of adja- 75 cent struts 22 or 23 are in abutting Contact. The faces 25 of the struts or stay members 22 are provided in their central parts with the grooves 26, the grooves of adjacent faces 25 registering in the fabricated beam to provide openings through which are directed the tie bolts 21. These bolts 2'I are also preferably disposed from above through the chord C and the chord D and have threaded on the lower end portions the holding nuts 28. The structure of the beam is maintained in desired assembly by the bolts 21 and such structure is maintained tight upon proper turning of the holding nuts 28,

Again referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing it is to be noted that each end portion of the upper chord A has secured thereto from below a lamination 29 of desired length and with the outer end of which abuts the face I4 of the adjacent strut or stay member I2. It is also to be noted in these figures that each end upslope strut or stay member 9 has its lower face I I in direct contact with the outer end of the footplate 5.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a truss structure constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

I claim:

"1.A truss beam comprising an upper chord and. a lower chord, up-slope struts interposed between the chords at opposite sides of the high point of the beam and down-slope struts between the chords at opposite sides of the high point of the beam, said up-slope struts having their ends provided with angularly related faces, certain of said faces having contact with the opposed surfaces of the chords, the down-slope struts also having extremities provided with angularly related faces, certain of said faces contacting with the opposed surfaces of the chords and the remaining faces of said last named struts abutting adjacent faces of the up-slope struts, the abutting faces of the up-slcpe struts and the down-slope struts having registering grooves to provide openings, tie bolts extending through the upper and lower chords of the beam and through the openings provided by the struts to hold the chords and struts in place, and holding members threading on the bolts and co-acting with one of the chords, said holding members also providing means for tightening the beam.

2. A truss beam comprising an upper chord and a lower chord, up-slope struts interposed between the chords at opposite sides of the high point of the beam and down-slope struts between the Ychords at opposite sides of the high point of the beam, said up-Slope struts having their ends provided with angularly related faces, certain of said faces having contact with the opposed surfaces of the chords, the down-slope struts also having extremities provided with angularly related faces, certain of said faces contacting with .the opposed surfaces of the chords and the remaining faces of said last named struts abutting adjacent faces of the up-slope struts, the abutting faces of the up-slope struts and the down-slope struts havingregistering grooves to provide openings, tie bolts extending through the upper and `lower chords of the beam and through the openchords, said holding members also providing means for tightening the beam, the down-slope struts being above and below each of the upslope struts, the upper and lower faces of each up-slope strut having recesses, the adjacent ends of the down-slope struts having extensions fitting within said recesses.

3. A truss beam comprising an upper chord and a lower chord, up-slope struts interposed between the chords at opposite sides of the high point f the beam and down-slope struts between the chords at opposite sides of the high point of the beam, said up-slope struts having their ends provided with angularly related faces, certain of said faces having contact with the opposed surfaces of the chords, the down-slope struts also having extremities provided with angularly related faces, certain of said faces contacting with the opposed surfaces of the chords and the remaining faces of said last named struts abutting adjacent faces of the up-slope struts, the abutting faces of the up-slope struts and the down-slope struts having registering grooves to provide openings, tie bolts extending through the upper and lower chords of the beam and through the openings provided by the struts to hold the chords and struts in place, and holding members threading on the bolts and co-acting with one of the chords, said holding members also providing means for tightening the beam, the up-slope struts and the down-slope struts being positioned side by side and bridging the distance between the upper chord and the lower chord.

4; A truss beam comprising an upper chord and a lower chord, up-slope struts interposed between the chords at opposite sides of the high point of the beam and down-slope struts between the chords at opposite sides of the high point of the beam, said up-slope struts having their ends provided with angularly related faces, certain of said faces having contact with the opposed surfaces of the chords, the down-slope struts also having extremities provided with angularly related faces, certain of said faces contacting with the opposed surfaces of the chords and the remaining faces of said last named struts abutting adjacent faces of the up-slope struts, the abutting faces of the up-slope struts and the down-slope struts having registering grooves to provide openings, tie bolts extending through the upper and lower chords of the beam and through the openings provided by the struts to hold the chords and the struts in place, and holding members threading on the bolts and coacting with one of the chords, said holding members also providing means for tightening the beam, the beam being entirely free of fastening members other than the bolts.

AUGUST RIETZKE. 

